Feeding device for fodder preserving liquid

ABSTRACT

A device is used in the harvesting of green fodder for feeding a fodder preserving liquid. The device includes a vane-like sensing element located inside the cutting machine and turning in the approximate direction of the fodder flow depending upon the quantity of fodder which has been cut. The fodder preserving liquid flows into the machine from a container through a valve and a nozzle unit. The sensing element regulates the valve and thus regulates the quantity of preserving liquid supplied to the fodder.

United States Patent Kause [151 3,682,391 [4 1 Aug. 8, 1972 FEEDINGDEVICE FOR FODDER PRESERVING LIQUID [72] Inventor: Niilo Kause,Paatinen, Finland [22] Filed: Oct. 14, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 80,657

[52] US. Cl. ..239/410, 137/98, 137/111, 239/561 [51] Int. Cl ..B05b1/14, B05b 7/ 12 [58] Field of Search ..239/561, 410, 412, 569, 586,239/576; 302/20, 42; 137/98, 111, 114

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,099,283 7/1963 l-loldemanet a1. ..137/111 1,485,495 3/1924 Eldred et a1. ..239/561 2,957,63010/1960 Lamb ..239/569 X 241,447 5/1881 Thorpe ..302/42 433,426 7/1890Tucker ..302/42 X 1,347,392 7/1920 Lyon ..302/20 1,792,590 2/1931 Kirk..302/20 2,754,155 7/1956 Kempthorne et a1. ..302/20 '3,012,732 12/1961Kempthorne ..302/20 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,319,449 1/1963France ..239/586 Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. AssistantExaminer-Edwin D. Grant Attorney-Richards & Geier 57 ABSTRACT A deviceis used in the harvesting of green fodder for feeding a fodderpreserving liquid. The device includes a vane-like sensing elementlocated inside the cutting machine and turning in the approximatedirection of the fodder flow depending upon the quantity of fodder whichhas been cut. The fodder preserving liquid flows into the machine from acontainer through a valve and a nozzle unit. The sensing elementregulates the valve and thus regulates the quantity of preserving liquidsupplied to the fodder.

2 Clains, 3 Drawing Figures FEEDING DEVICE FOR FODDER PRFSERVING LIQUIDThe present invention concerns a device for adding preserving liquid togreen fodder in connection with the cutting of the fodder. 1

A method is previously known in which the preserving liquid is fedeither directly from the shipment container or from a special containerconnected with the harvesting device, into the green fodder harvestingand cutting machine. In one of the methods control of the feed ofpreserving fluid is by means of a regulating organ placed in front ofthe cutting apparatus. This organ exerts a regulating eflect upon thepreserving liquid by means of its position. The position of theregulatory organ is dependent on contact by the growing fodder plant. Ithas been found that the above-mentioned previously known regulatingorgan is easily damaged for a number of reasons, mainly as a result ofits location. Moreover, it is comparatively complex of its design andtherefore also expensive of its price.

The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the said drawbacks andto accomplish a feeding device which is simple of design andinexpensive, and which also does not easily suffer damage, and theinvention is mainly characterized in that as organ acting upon the valveregulating the liquid feed operates a vane-like sensor organ mountedinside the cutting machine, which depending on the quantity of cutfodder turns more or less into the direction of the fodder flow and atthe same time regulates the valve and thereby regulates the amount ofpreserving liquid flowing into the nozzle section. The valve element hasbeen fitted in previously known manner into the piece of tubing leadingfrom the liquid container to the nozzle.

Of the advantages gained by the aid of the invention there may bementioned the placement of the regulating organ inside the machine, inthe fodder flow, whereby it cannot be damaged by external influences.The regulating organ placed inside the machine also has the advantagethat its operation is exclusively dependent on the true amount of greenfodder that has already been cut.

The present invention also comprises a new device for adjusting theamount of preserving liquid to be proper of its magnitude. This isaccomplished in that the nozzle unit has been furnished with a number,consistent with what is needed, of different sized nozzle apertures, toeach of which separately the preserving liquid line can be selectivelyconnected.

The invention is described in greater detail in the following withreference to the attached drawings, in which FIG. 1 represents thedevices as seen from the front in the direction of travel of theharvesting machine, while FIG. 2 is a vertical section through thedevices, seen from the side and with cutting in progress, and

FIG. 3 shows the nozzle unit.

The drawing illustrates one embodiment of the invention, showing invertical section the valve-regulating organ inside, in the flow of greenfodder, the valve, and the set of nozzles. The vane-like sensing organ1, which turns to approximate the direction of the fodder flow, islocated inside the cutting machine and is attached to an arm 2, whichpasses through the wall of r iil fil m i film): ou 1's e fdd lllie g iat its lower end has an eye 6, through which passes the flexible tube 7.When there is no fodder flow, the vane 1 moves towards its horizontalposition. This causes the part 5 to rise, and the eye 6 throttles thetube 7 by pressure against the body part 4, whereby the flow ofpreserving liquid from the container 15 into the nozzle unit 8 isprevented. Correspondingly, when the vane l is acted upon by fodderflow, it rises towards its vertical position depending on the quantityof fodder, and the part 5 descends. The tube 7 is then set free fromcompression by the eye 6 and preserving liquid can flow into the set ofnozzles.

The nozzle unit consists of one body 10, in which the following partsmay be distinguished: 11 is the nozzle aperture proper, through whichthe preserving liquid flows into the green fodder. This nozzle body has,for instance, five nozzle apertures of different sizes, of which any onecan be selected to be used. The nozzle body 10 is mounted at a suitablepoint on the wall of the green fodder duct so that its projections 13are within the green fodder duct in the green fodder flow. Thepreserving liquid tube is connected to the pipeshaped projection 12remaining on the outside, for instance by pushing the flexible tube uponthis projection. The holes 14 are intended for fixing the nozzle body tothe wall of the green fodder duct. The nozzle unit may be made e.g. ofplastic by a casting process or by pressing in a die, whereby itsmanufacturing is inexpensive.

The invention is obviously not confined exclusively to the embodimentexample described in the foregoing, but it may vary within the scope ofthe patent claims presented below.

I claim 1. A device for supplying a fodder preserving liquid during theharvesting of green fodder, comprising in combination with a casingthrough which the cut fodder flows, a sensing vane located within saidcasing and turning depending on the quantity of fodder that has been cutto substantially approximate the direction of the fodder flow, an armcarrying said vane and having an end extending through said casing, aliquid container attached to said casing, a nonle unit fixed to saidcasing, of flexible tube connecting said liquid container with saidnozzle unit, a rod-like part having an eye engaging said flexible tubeand constituting a valve regulating the flow of liquid and a leverattached to said am and pivotally connected with said rod-like part.

2. Feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the nozzleunit (10) comprises one, two or several nozzle apertures of differentsize for the purpose of regulating the liquid flow and selecting it tobe appropriate as needed.

1. A device for supplying a fodder preserving liquid during theharvesting of green fodder, comprising in combination with a casingthrough which the cut fodder flows, a sensing vane located within saidcasing and turning depending on the quantity of fodder that has been cutto substantially approximate the direction of the fodder flow, an armcarrying said vane and having an end extending through said casing, aliquid container attached to said casing, a nozzle unit fixed to saidcasing, of flexible tube connecting said liquid container with saidnozzle unit, a rod-like part having an eye engaging said flexible tubeand constituting a valve regulating the flow of liquid and a leverattached to said arm and pivotally connected with said rodlike part. 2.Feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the nozzleunit (10) comprises one, two or several nozzle apertures of differentsize for the purpose of regulating the liquid flow and selecting it tobe appropriate as needed.